UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

PERCEIVED IMPORTANCE AND PRACTICES OF PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT STEPS AND PRINCIPLES BY EXTENSION SUPERVISORS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

MALAYSIA

WAN HANISAH BT. WAN ISMAIL

FBMK 1993 2

PERCEIVED IMPORTANCE AND PRACTICES OF PROGRAMME

DEVELOPMENT STEPS AND PRINCIPLES BY EXTENSION

SUPERVISORS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

MALAYSIA

By

WAN HANISAH BT. WAN ISMAIL

Th(!sis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Hequlrements for the Degree of Master of Science In

Lht' Centre for Extens�oll and Continuing Education, Univcrsiti Pertanian Malaysia

January 1993

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author wishe s to expre s s her thanks and

appreciation to the graduate committee, Dato'

Dr.Mohd. Nasir Ismail, Prof. Dr. A1ang Perang

Zainuddin and Dr.Raja Ahmad Tajuddin Shah for their

couns el, guidance and encouragement in the

d evelopment of this thesis. The author also conveys

her acknowledgeme n t and appreciatio n to Puan Asma

Ahmad for the counsel and guidance given during the

initial stage of developing this thesis.

Special recognition is given to Puan Saodah Wok

for her cooperation and guidance during the

analy sis of data in this s tudy. Special

acknowledgement al s o goes to Michael D. Lunjew who

edited the final draft of this the sis. The author

als o ackn owledge s the contributio n s of her

colleague s and staff members of the Centre for

Ext e n s ion and Continuing Education in the University

of Agriculture Malaysia who were very supportive

throughout the graduate work. The author also wishe s

to acknowle dge the extension supervisors in the three

Departments of Agriculture who participated in this

study.

ii

F inally , and speci ally the author i s

grate ful t o her husband , Abd . Razak Said , sons

Faizal and Faruq , and daughter S arah for the i r

unders tanding , enc ouragement and patience throughout

her graduate programme that made t h i s work a succ e s s .

i i i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ACKNOWLt::DGEMENT

LIS'I OF TABLES vi ii

1,[ ST OF F r GIJRES x

xi

A]lSl'RAK xv

CHAPTER

1 l NTRODlJC'J' rON ............................. .

[ 1

Background of the Proble m 1

Strltement ot the ProlJlem 10

Ob;C'c'l I v('<.; of 111<' Sludy 1 7.

Significance of the Study J3

Scope of t he S t ud y ]4

LimLtaLions ot the St1ldy ) ':i

lleflni t 10n ot Terms ) 7

LITERA1URE REVIEW 20

Definitions of Programme Develop m e n t ...... 20

kationale for P roq ramm e Developm e n t 22

Assumptions in Ext ension Programme

Deve I ()pm�nt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

The Principles of Programme Development ... 28

N�eds and Needs Assessments........... 28

Comprehens] v e Approach ............... 31

Flpxihll ity 32

iv

Page

C] ien t s I lnvo l veme n t . . . .............. 33

Orie n tatLon Towar d s the Exis ting Te chnic al, E c o n omic a n d Social Level of the People in the Area

Clari t y a n d Signific a n c e of

34

ObjectlveR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3L.

Training o f Ext ens i o n Pe r s o n n el 35

Utili s a tion of Local Lead ership a n d L o c al Organisation . .. . . .......... 36

Coordina1.lon and Collaborative

Ef f ort s . . . . .. . ...... . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 38

Evaluation of Re sults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Natio n a l P o licie s .................... 40

Programme Deve lopmen t Models 41

Similaritie s in the C l a s s i c al Programming Model s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Ext e n sion Programme Developme n t Cour s e Tallght in iJn i v(Hs it.i. Pertanian Malaysia . . . . .... . .. . . . . . . . . . ....... . . .. . . 57

Compatibility or the IJPM Programme Development

Model with the Models

in literature

111 METHODOLOGY

61

65

Conceptua I Framework of the Study . .. . . . . . . 65

Deve l opmen t of t�e Programm ing Ac t i vit ies.. 67

Development of the Que s tionnaire 68

Re spon s e S c al e 69

Pretesting of the Ques t.ionnaire YO

Survey Populat i on a n d Dat a Coll e c t i o n 71

v

tV

Analysis of Dat a . . . . . . . . . . . . . " . . . . . . . . . .

FLNDINGS AND DLSCIJSSlONS

1�e Perceived Importance of the Activities () I Jl rOI) rillJlrne n�!ve I OrlllC)D t anel Freq\lency

Page

73

76

o f Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Organisation for Programme Planning . . 77

Analysis of t he Situat i on 82

Formulation of Objectives 88

Iden tification of Resources and Support 94

Development of the Plan of Actions 100

Preparation of the Programme Document ............................ J07

Programme Implementa tion 113

EvaJuation a n d A c c ountabili t y 120

Degree of Emphasis of the Programming Pd n ciples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Need� Assessments ]28

C]jent's Involvemen t ]29

Utilisation of Local Leadership and Local Organisations 130

Clar ity and S igni f i can ce of Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]32

Cooper at ion and Coordi naU on

Programme Evaluation

Const rai rlts Faeed by I he Extension Supervisors in Carrying out the

13;\

134

Programme Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

vi

Page

The Occurrence of Constraints . . . . . . . . 136

Tile Types of Constraint� Encountered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

V SIJMMAHY, CONCT.tJSTONS, fMPL fCATlONS

AND }{ECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Summary 1 . ',0

The Prohlem 150

Research Methodology 151

The Fi ndings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 2

Conclusions

Tmp1ications

Recommendations

Slleepst j OilS for Add; ti onal Hesearch

H lHLlOGRAPHY

APPENDICES

A Persons Who Reviewed the Criteria

10/.

166

] 70

177

Statements of the Programming Steps 178

B Questi onnaire Schedule (EngJish Language) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

c

D

Questionnaire Schedule

( Malaysian Language )

Additional Tables

E Letter of Introduction and Permission

197

216

to the Departments of Agriculture . . .. 228

CURRI.CULUM V]TAE 7.7.9

vii

Tab l e

1.

2.

3.

1-+ •

LIST OF TABLES

Breakdown of Hes pon d e n t s by C a t e gor i e s

Orgalllsat i.on for Programme P] anDing: lIs J)ee;ree of J mport fl nce find

fl'cquenr.y of Practice .................. .

A n a l y s i s o f t h e S i t u a t ion: Its Degre e of Import a n c e and F r e quency of Practice . . ... . . . . . .... . .... .

Pormulation of Objec tives: Jts Degree of Tmportance and

frequency of Practice .... . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .

ldentification of Re sourc e s a n d Suppor t : 1 ts Degree of Importance and Frp qu en r y of Pra c tice . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . .. .

(). Deve I opmeJlt of the P I an ot Actions : lIs U e g ree of Tmportance and F r ( ' q II ( ' II (' Y () f P r <l (' tic: e

I. Preparation of the Programme Docume n t : Its Dp�rcp of Importance and

Page

73

18

8 3

89

95

10 1

FreqllPncy of Practi ee . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 108

h. Programille Imrlelflclltation: rts Deg r e e of IlIJport ance a n d Fre quency of Practice..... 114

<). Eva 1na tion and A cr.ountabi 1 i ty:

Its Degree of Tmportance and

Frequency of P rac t ice . . . . .. ..... . . . . . . . . 1 21

10. The DegJ'pe of Emphflfd s of the

ProgramminR Principles by the

I I .

Extension Supervisors ..... .... . . . . ... . . . ]�7

1.()fIstr<lints ill th£' Pronramming Steps

l�xpl'rieJ\<:ed by Extensi on Supervisors in Extpnsion Programme De ve l opm e n t

viij

1:)7

Page

l�. types at Constraints Faced by t he

Extension Supervisors when Practisin2 t he Progr ammi ng Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 1

I '-l. The Degree of [mportance of the

Programming St eps and the i r Frequency of Pract ice , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J 53

14. Position of Extension Supervisors

In their Resp e c tive S t a t e Department

of Agd culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217

l�. Working Expe rienc e of Extens ion

Superv:isors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217

J6. The fjip,hest Roucational ()ualijication .;

I / .

18.

19.

of t-he Ext"enslon Supervj sors ............. 2113

Ace or the F.xten�;i 011 Supervisors . . . . . . . . . 718

Sex of the Extension Supervisors . . . . .. . . . 219

The Numher of In-Service Trainin g 111 Extension Attended hy the Extenslon Supf'(visors . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2[9

i(). Needs Af>f>essments: 1 ts DegreE' oj Importance and Frequency

o( Practice ...................... . . . . . . . 220

/1. Cli0Tlt 'e; Involvement: I te; Degree

of Importance and Frequency

of Pract.jce . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 221

22. U t ili sati on of Local L e a dership and Local ()rr�af\ i sati on: T 1.s Degree of Importance

24.

'J' ) .

and frequency of Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222

Clarity and Si�nifjc:anc:e of Ohjec:tives: lts llegrf'e of J mport ance and Frequency ot Practice ............................ .

Cooperatjon and Coordination: Its Degree ot )mportanre and F requency of P ract ice . . .

Progr8mlllP r:valuation: Its Degree of I III [lor t (\ nee and r r e q II ell (' y 0 t P t' act ice

ix

224

27')

F i gure

1 .

L.

:3.

LIST OF F IGURES

Leagan's Model of Programme Development ............................ .

Pes�on's Model of Programme Development ............................ .

Real et a1.'� Model of Programme Dove 1 opment ............................. .

Boyle's Developmental Framework for Programme Development .............. .

�. Houle'� Model of Programme Deve10pment

6. Hoone's Model of Programme

Page

43

4')

48

50

Deve 1 opment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

7 . Kow(ll�ki'� Model of Programme

Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

H. Frierie's Programme Development Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

q. The Extension Programme Devplopment Model Taught in UPM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

10. Conceptual Framework of the Stuny . . . . . . . . 66

x

Abstract of thes i s s uhmit t e d t o the [Ini ver s :i t:i Pert anian Mal a y s :i a in p a r t i a l ot the requirements for the deeree o f

S e n ate o f f u l f i l l m e n t

M a s te r of SC1 ence.

PERCEIVED IMPORTANCE AND PRACTICES OF PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT STEPS AND PRINCIPLES BY EXTENSION SUPERVISORS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

MALAYSIA

By

WAN HANISAH BT WAN ISMAIL

JANUARY 1993

Chairman: A ssociate Professor Data' Mohd Nasir [smail,Ph.D

Faculty

Ell0r1ll01l�

Centre for Extension a n d Cont i n u i ng Education.

(' Hort s havp been made by the

government to improve local extension s e r vices.

However, weaknesses and discrepancies in extension

services rplating to programme deve l opmen t are s till

bping voicpd out. This study was an attempt to

r1('Lpl'mine the importa1lce and frequency of p r a c t i c e in

tllp fieJd, ot the steps and principJes ot programme

d('vl' I 0PIIlUII t in the [ieid a� per ce i ved hy exteTision

� U [lP r vis 0 r s in the Department of Aeri cll1 �\IrP.

i\J)otIH'1 ohJective of lh(� <;llldy was 1.0 identify

the constraints f aced by the exte ns:ion sup e r v i sors,

who are graduates of the Universiti Pert anian

Malaysia, in their effort to c arry out th e

prORramming steps and prin cipl es as b e i n g tau g h t in

lhe (Jnlversity.

The respon d e n ts were Agriculture

Offi c e rs and 50 Assist an t Agri c u l t ure O f f i c e rs f rom

three state Departme n ts of Agri c u l t ure i n P e n i nsul ar

MaJaysia. Qu esti onnaire s c h e dules w e r e use d for dat a

collection. Follow-up group interviews were also

ronducted wi th sele c t e d r espon d e n ts.

1�e analysis of data r e v e aled th at al I

exc('pt two of til{' eight programming steps (an alys:i s

of the situation and preparation of t h e prog r amme

document) taught in t h e University w e r e p er c eiv e d as

important in programme development. Howe v er, none of

those steps w e r e r e ported t o b e fr eque n t l y prac t i s e d

in the field. Similarly, five of t h e p r i n ci p l es of

programme development t ested (exc ept Coop eration and

coordination) were perceiv e d as impor t an t , but none

had be en c onsi ste ntly emph asised by t h e e x t ens�on

SllperVlsors during Lhe proc ess of extension programme

d eve lopment .

The extension snpeJ·vi so rs fac e d cons traints

wi th three ot the eight proeramnd ng steps. Th e

xii

biggest con st raints were with eval uat ion and

accoun t abi l ity . The mos t fre quently mentioned

constraints were, problems related to clients who

were part-time farmers ; lack of time due to work

over-load on the part of the extension

supervis ors ; lack of adequate knowledge and skills

In extension programme development; lack of up-to­

date information about the cl i ents; insufficient

[und�; Low cooperation among extension officers;

p nvironment al s ituations ; political influence and low

interagency c ooperati on.

Several recommendati ons were suggested to

improve lhe programme deve l opment practices in the

DOA. These include strengthening the pre-service and

in-service training by the DOA and UPM , reviewing the

teaching

trainiIlg

mak i ng

approach by these two ins titutions ,

local leaders in prog ramme development ,

early provisions for cooperation and

coordination with other agencies, and providing clear

statement s of roles of those involved in programme

development. It was also recommended that the

f'xtension s uperv isor s be rel i eve d from most

adminic;trative d11ties so as to pnahl e them to give

IIJ<)J"(' ronrpnlratjoJ) on extenc;ion aetivjtjes. LastJy, a

lollow-up study using the qual i tati ve approach was

xiii

proposed to determine an indepth picture o f the

status of programme development practices and

constraints faced which resulted in their low level

of practice in the field.

xiv

Abst.rak lesis yang Universiti Pe rtanian sebahagian daripada Sains.

dikcmukakan kepada Senat Ma l aysia sebagai memenuhi

syarat untuk I j azah Ma s t e r

PERSEPS I PENYELIA PENGEMBANGAN TERHADAP KEPENTINGAN DAN AMALAN PEMBENTUKAN PROGRAM PENGEMBANGAN

DI JABATAN PERTANIAN , MALAYSIA

O l eh

WAN HANI SAH BT . WAN I SMAIL

JANUARI 1993

i'engcrusi: Prof.Madya Dato' Mohd. Nasir lsmail,Ph.D

Fakult.i: Pusat Pengembangan dan Pendidikan Lanjutan

Kclemahan-kelemahan di dalam khidmat

pengembangan tempatan yang menjurus kepada amalan

pembentllkan program, masih banyak dipersoalkan w a1all

pun hanyak u saha telah d iambi l oleh kerajaan llntllk

melfJ[lf!rhaikinya. Kajian ini bertu.iuan untllk memberi

l'ellurnpuan t erhadap amalan pembentllkan program

peflg�lllhangan eli kalangan penyelia-penyelia

pengembangan dalam Jabatan Pertanian.

Ka.jian ini merllpakan satll percuhaan untuk

1IIf'llent ukan persepsj penye] i a-penye] i.a pengembanean

t.erha<iap kepent i n gan dan kekerapan terima pakai

langkah-iangkah dan pri nsip pembentuk an program.

�las a 1 ah-masa 1 ah yang tiihadapi oleh penye l ia

xv

pengembangan berkaitan pene r i maan pakai langkah ­

program 1angkah s erta prin s ip pembentukan

pengemb �ngan yang di a j ar di Univer s i t i Pertan i an

Malays i a j uga cuba dikenal p a s t i .

Kaj i an i n i mel ibatkan 64 o r ang re sponden

yang t e r d i r i daripada Pegawai Pertanian dan Penol ong

Pe gawai Pertanian di t i g a Jabatan Pertan i an negeri di

Semenanj ung

di gunakan

Malays i a . Borang s o a l - s e l i d i k

sebagai :11 at men gumpul dat a .

t e l ah

Ini

d isampa i kan s en d i r i oleh penye l i d i k kepada re s ponden .

Temubual berkumpulan dengan re sponden terp i l ih j uga

d iadakan untuk menyokong data darip ada borang s o a 1-

s e li d i k.

Anal i s i s dat a menunj ukkan bahawa

s ebahagian b e s a r langkah- langkah pembentukan program

d i anggap pen t i ng o l eh penye l i a peng embangan . Hanya

dua s ahaj a dianggap s e derhana pentin g , i a i tu

an al i s i s s i tua s i dan pemben tukan dokumen prog ram .

Walau bagaimana pun kela pan- l a pan l an g kah pembentukan

program tidak diamalkan secara berterusan . Lima

dar ipada enam pri n s ip pembentukan program yang dikaj i

d i ang g ap pent i n g o l eh re sponden . Ker j as ama dan

k oo rdina s i dian ggap s ederhana pent i n g s aha j a di dal am

pembentukan program Namun b e g i tu , keenam-enam

p r i n s ip t e r s ebut d i dapat i t i dak diberi penekanan

xvi

sapenuhnya o leh penye l i a pengembangan

pembentukan pro gram pengembangan .

Penye l i a-penye l i a p e ngembangan

s emasa

d i dapa t i

menghadapi mas a l ah untuk mengamalkan t i ga daripada

la ng kah-l angkah pemben tukan program , i a i t u , anal i s i s

s i tua s i , p e r l aks anaan program dan p en i l a i an dan

akaunt ab i l i t i . Mas alah yang paling ke rap dihadapi

i a l ah untuk mel aks anakan l angkah peni l ai an dan

akaunt ab i l i t i . Di antara m a s a l ah yang di s ebutkan

i a l ah berkaitan dengan kumpulan s a s a r yang merupakan

pe t a ni s eparuh ma sa , kekurangan masa di s ebabkan beban

tanggung j awab yang ban yak o l eh

pengembangan , kekurangan pengetahuan di

peny e l i a

kalangan

penye l i a pengembangan di dalam pembentukan program ,

s emasa yang t i dak mencukupi mengenai maklumat

kumpulan

kewan gan ;

s a s ar masalah kekurangan peruntukan

kurang ker j a s ama antara pegawai

peng embang an ; m a s a l ah s i tuasi per s eki taran ; peng aruh

pol i t ik s er t a ker j as ama yang lemah antara agens i .

Beberap a cadangan t e l ah dikemukakan untuk

mempertingkatkan ama l an pembentukan program di

j ab at an i n i . Di antaranya i a l ah memperkukuhkan l agi

kur sus pra-perkh i dmat an dan kur s u s dalam p erkh i dmatan

oleh UPM dan Jabatan Pertanian , menyemak s emul a

kaedah pengaj aran pengemban gan yang di gunakan d i

xvi i

kedua-dua i n s t i tu s i i n i , me l at i h pe mi mp i n t e mp a t an

d i dal a m p e mbentukan progra m, mengadakan p e runtukan

lebih awal untuk ker j a s a ma dan koord i na s i antara

agen s i dan menyedi akan kenyataan yang tepat mengenai

tug a s dan tanggun g j awab orang -orang yang t e r l ibat d i

dal a m p e mbentukan progra m. A da l ah d i c adangkan j uga

supaya penye l i a penge mb angan d i kurangkan beban ker j a

pent a db i ran s upaya dapat me mberi tumpuan yang l ebih

kepada ker j a pen g e mbangan . Akh i r s ekal i , adalah

d i c adangkan s upaya kaj ian s u s u l an menggunakan kaedah

kua l i t at i f di laksanakan untuk men i n j au dengan l e b i h

menda l a m s t atus s ebenar d a n s eb ab mus ab ab mengapa

a ma l an pe mb e ntukan progra m penge mb angan r endah di

Jabatan Pertan i an .

xv i i i

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background o f Problem

Agri cultural exte n s i on h a s a l ways been c l os e l y

li nked w i th devel opmen tal e f f ort s , espe c i a l l y i n the

t h i r d w or l d c ount r i e s . The main f ocus of the

ex ten s ion activities in t h i s c ontext i s to impr ov e

human c ond i t i on s . Thi s i n v ol v e s teaching pe opl e i n

the rur a l areas h ow t o rai s e th e i r s t andard of

l i ving , by the i r own e f f or t s , us i n g t h e i r own

r e s ources with m i n i mum a s s i s t ance fr om the

g overnment .

A c c or d i n g t o B oone , as quoted by B l a c kburn

(1989), the a i m of extens i on , a s a f i e l d of

p r ofe s s i on a l educat i on a l pract i c e , i s t o tea c h p e op le

i n the i r own c ontext and l i f e s i tuat i on s h ow t o

i den t ify and a s s e s s t h e i r own n e e d s and pr ob lems ;

h e lp them t o a c qui re the kn ow l e dge and s ki l ls

required t o c ope e f fe c t i v e l y with t h os e needs and

p r ob le�s ; and i n s p i r i n g them t o ac t i on . The s e in turn

w i ll le ad t o the achi evement of the deve l opment

t arget , wh i ch i s t o i mpr ove the we l l -be i ng and s e l f

r e a li zat i on of the p e op l e thr ough c ol l e c t i ve e f f or t .

1

has

Malaysia, since gaining

heen putting up numerous

2

her independence,

efforts towards

improving the socio-economic standards of the people

particular l y those in the rural areas. The national

development efforts are clearly evident by the

�jglljfi.cant in crease in budgetary allocations for

development programmes since the last fi ve Malaysian

Developmen t Plans and c ontinuing i nto the Sixth

Malaysian Plan . Since then, the significance of

extension work began to surface and was emph asi sed by

policy makers and p l anners in their efforts to meet

the new r:hallenge of development work.

'I'll(' Pl'OWilll'. cOllc!')'n ['or ('xtension work hilS

prnlJ)pLed the gove rnment to increase budgeta r y

il I \ 0 cat ion s fo r ext ens ion pro.i (�c t s c han n e 1 ed t h r 0 ugh

va r i OilS extens j on acenc·j es such as the Department of

Aericulture (DOA) , the Rubber lndust ries Smallholders

Development Author i ty (R1SDA), and the Federal Land

Dpvelopmpnt Authority (FELDA). A t the agency level,

the growinf� concern to i mprove the extension service

is lIIuch more obvious . Efforts to increase the number

nt extension worke rs hy these various extensi on

agenejes can be seen as a nationwide phenomenon that

a more effoctive and wider scope of extensi on

sprvires could be prov i ded to the rural pe ople.

Kealising the need for training of

workers, these extension agencies have

3

extension

establi shed

their own training units, illstitutes or training

schools to strengthen their extension services.

Ill's ides thill, HJ SnA, for exampl e, had proceeded evell

furt her by getting the World Bank technica l

assistance to sponsor consultants to examine its

extpnsion activities and to re c ommend improvement

measures.

The emphasis on the importance of the

extension component is also shown by one of the local

academic in�titutions, namely the Universiti

I'('rl ani an Ma I aYf>la (LJPM). The extension courses whi eh

were Initially made compulsory to students in the

Agriculture Faculty are now being extended to those

in othe r faeultLes in the university such as the

Faculties of Fi sheri es ilnd Marine Science,

Engineering and the Veterinary Medicine and Animal

Sci en c e s. At the same t i m e , UPM also provides in-

service tr�inine for a1 I levels of extension workers

of various extf'nsiol1 agencies. ] t- a J so embarks on the

training of trainers for local tr ai ning officers of

various (>xtpnsion agendes so that more effe c t i v e 111-

hou.;;e training coul d he clelivered to

workers in their respective

extension

agencies.

4

Desp i te the above ef forts by the govern men t

and exten sion a gencies to strengthen t heir extension

servi ces, questions still arise as to whether t he

Tleltional development goals have actuall y heen

arhieved. I t is generally felt that the success of

proerammes implemented by development

agencies in the country are still not up to a

natisfactory level . Wide gap s still exist between

abundant research f indin gs and Lheir applica t ion b y

the cnrl us er s who are the farmers a n d rural people

(Mohd. Yusof and Chin, 19RO). There are people i n

remote areas who have not benefited from developmen t

f'rrort s . Cou l d this be due to wrong targeting of

r l ients for the extension progra mmes implemen ted?

Were these programme designed to solve t he immediate

rI'ohtems and needs of the actnal t a r ge t audience?

W('I"(� the abov(' prohlems a n d needs selected b ased on

d ('omprehcn..,ive hackground information ahou t the

dipnts?

Proper targeting requires knowledge about the

type of rural household involved, their a v ailable

rCSf)llrCeS, p roduction ob1ec tives, soils, crops,

technology a n d farming pr a c tices adopted ( Roling,

I ')BFl) . Surh intormat ion pro vides a n integrateo

pirtul'f' of the cHent's f ar m in g system, their

c )

constrai nts. potentials and objectives. In the

targeting p roce s s . one must assume an obstinate

'llldi<'I1C{, (Holin?,. 1981-1). Ext ension efforts shou ld

then be deliberately targeted at homogeneous

categorl es of rural people (in terms of access to

r('sources, production obj eetives and opportunities).

The discrepanc i es between extensive

d('ve]opmental e ffor ts and the actual benefits gained

�y Ihe ultimalp target audience may also be due to

certain weaknesses in the extension service itself.

Several weaknesses in the extension servi ce have been

f�xposed and h ighl ighted by research findings and

('011111101115 made by researchers, pro f(�ssj ona] s,

administrators and po liticians through the media as

well as in seminars and conferences. One of those

weaknesses often highlighted is lack of coordination

between extension agencies. As reported by Mohd.Yusof

and C h j n ( ) <) 8 0), wid e ga p s st ill ex i s t bet wee n

existing agricultural prac ti ces and the backlog of

research findings which have not reached the f armers .

Sinha (1982) reported that coordination was also

IdckLne at th� decision-making Level and between

various extension aeencies, voluntary organisations,

'ilatutory bodies and media nrganisations. This

(:ont r; buted to the unsat ] s factory achi evements of the

implemented pxtens i on programmes.

6

Tran smi s s ion o f n ew t echnology to th e

op erational points i s not a l ways ef f i c i en t . A s

poin t ed out b y S inha (1982), a l o t o f t ime i s d evoted

to pro c es s ing r es earch i n format i on into ext en s ion

r ecomm enda t i on s , p a c kaging i t into prop er ext en s i on

m es s ag es and di s t r ibuting i t to di f f er en t ut i l i sat ion

point s . Thi s ef fort is time consuming and qui t e

o f t en , t h e r equi r ed i n formation does not r each t h e

f i el d i n t i m e , thus r en d ering th e m es s ag e us el es s .

Anoth er important prob l em h i gh l i gh t ed by

pro f es s ional s about t h e exi s t ing ext en s i o n s ys t em i s

th e lack o f f eedba c k . Th er e i s v ery l i t t l e two-way

c ommuni cation in th e exi s t ing ext en s ion

admini s tration s ys t em . Mo s t of th e time, t h e f l ow of

in format i o n is on e-way , from th e top to th e bottom .

Th er e i s hardly any upward f l ow o f i n format ion from

the farmer s to the p l ann er s ( S i nha , 1982 ) .

Low farm er par t i c ipat i on and motivat i on i n

ext en s ion a c t i v i t i es i s anoth er p r ob l em hi ghl i ght ed

by r es earch er s in t h e c ountry . A s tudy by Bahari

( 1984) on R I SDA ' s small farm er d ev el opm en t programm es

r ev ea l s th e abs enc e o f par t i c ipation by small

farm er s and ext en s i on p er s on n el i n the pro c es s of

tho s e programm es . H e s ug g es t s that s im i l ar s tudi es

b e c onduc t ed with o t h er smal l farm er a g enc i es i n